The sound of the East Fork of the Lewis River carries through most of the campground at Sunset Falls, set within Gifford Pinchot National Forest about an hour from Portland. The layout divides into two distinct sections: roughly ten pull-through drive-in sites on one side, with about half of them overlooking the river, and eight walk-in tent sites on the other, most of which reviewers describe as having more privacy. As Brian C. puts it, it's a "smallish campground with about half the spots right on the river."
Site quality varies noticeably depending on which number you land. Creekside pull-throughs consistently draw higher marks in reviews, while interior sites feel more exposed to the campground road, which sees through-traffic from motorists and motorcycles at various hours. All drive-in sites are pull-throughs, accommodating rigs up to 40 feet with water and sewer hookups. Solar charging is workable from the less-wooded sites even on overcast days, according to multiple RV campers. Cell service is essentially nonexistent here, with reviewers reporting no signal on either Verizon or AT&T.
The main draw beyond the campsites themselves is a paved trail, roughly a quarter mile, leading to a waterfall and swimming hole in the day-use area. The trail is shaded and accessible enough for young children. Swimming and wading in the lower pool are popular on warm days, though the day-use area draws significant crowds, particularly on summer afternoons. Campers note the day-use area tends to clear out by morning and is generally left reasonably clean overnight.
A few practical notes before booking: water availability has been inconsistent according to recent reviews, so carrying your own supply is a reasonable precaution. The vault toilets are cleaned regularly by the camp host, but the structures themselves are aging and draw frequent comments. The access road is narrow and warrants a slow approach, especially for longer rigs. Reservations are available for some sites, while others remain first-come, first-served. Nearby Forest Road 42 Dispersed — Gifford Pinchot NF provides a dispersed alternative if the campground is full.
The surrounding area has a lot to keep campers occupied. Moulton Falls and several other waterfall destinations are within roughly 20 miles, and the Lewis River corridor has well-regarded paddling. Gravel roads deeper into the forest give cyclists better options than the narrow paved road through the valley. Campers who want to explore campsites near Yacolt will find this stretch of the Lewis River valley worth a longer look.
Description
Overview
Sunset Campground is located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Visitors enjoy scenic views of the river and a waterfall within the campground. The campground is open all year.
Recreation
There are several hiking trails nearby, including the Silver Star trail which offers excellent views of Portland, Oregon. The area is also popular with kayakers that visit the East Fork Lewis River.
Facilities
Sunset Campground offers 18 standard sites that accommodate tents and RVs (22 feet), but no hookups are available. Picnic tables and campfire rings with grills are provided, as are 3 vault toilets and trash receptacles.
Natural Features
The campground is just off the East Fork Lewis River at an elevation of 1,000 feet. The campground road and trail path to the falls are paved and shaded by large evergreen trees.
Contact Info
This location is staffed. Please call (360) 729-0018 to speak with local staff.
Nearby Attractions
The campground is located in between Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams, and only about an hour north of Portland, Oregon.
Charges & Cancellations
Cancellations Individual Campsites: Cancellations up to 2 days before a reservation start date incur a $10.00 cancellation fee. A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's use fee including tax and applicable add-on for a campsite. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee. No-Shows A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date. No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite. Refunds Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Refunds will not be issued after the 7 days has ended. Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay. For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive. In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.
Fee Info
Extra Vehicle Fee $8.00
Reservation Info
Reservations for peak season at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsSunset Falls Campground is located in Washington near Yacolt
Directions
From I-5 take exit 9 WA 502 for Battle Ground. Go about 7 miles and turn left on WA 503 and head north for about 5.5 miles. Turn right onto NE Rock Creek Rd, which will turn into NE 152nd Ave and then a slight left onto NE Lucia Falls Rd for about 7 miles. Then turn right onto NE Sunset Falls Road, travel for about 7 miles and the campground will be on your right. Location: 40806 NE Sunset Falls Rd, Yacolt WA 98675
Address
40806 NE Sunset Falls Rd
Yacolt, WA 98675
Coordinates
45.8186111 N
122.25 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Contact
General Info
Reservations
Drive Time
- 1 hr 3 min from Portland, OR
- 1 hr 16 min from Longview, WA
- 1 hr 52 min from Salem, OR
- 2 hrs 6 min from Olympia, WA













































